Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many criminal prosecutions there were against illegal consumer credit providers by the Financial Conduct Authority in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.
Answered by Simon Kirby
This question has been passed on to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA will reply to directly to the Honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce tax incentives for people who engage in regulated and supervised exercise to off-set the likelihood of diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Government published the 'Sporting Future' strategy last December to support and fund sport and physical activity and the Sport England’s strategy 'Towards an Active Nation', published in May, committed to spend at least 25% of their funding on those that are classed as inactive. The Government’s “Cycle to Work” scheme includes an annual tax exemption allowing employers to loan cycles and cyclists' safety equipment to employees as a tax-free benefit.
The Government keeps all tax policy under review.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to compensate Equitable Life policy holders who, to date, have not been eligible for compensation.
Answered by Simon Kirby
The Equitable Life Payment Scheme was set up in 2011 to make payments to all those affected by the government maladministration of Equitable Life identified by the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman in her 2008 report.
After making payments of over £1.1 billion to more than 900,000 policyholders, the Scheme has now closed.
A final report on the Scheme’s achievements will be published shortly.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a self-contained annex to a house will be assessed separately from the entire residence for the purpose of calculating stamp duty at the point of sale; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government recognises the concerns raised around the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) treatment of self-contained annexes and agrees that the new higher rates of SDLT should not apply to a purchase of a main residence.
The Government is amending the Finance Bill to exempt annexes from the higher rates of SDLT when purchased in the same transaction as a main residence. In this case, the transaction will be treated as only involving one dwelling and SDLT at the standard rates will apply. An annex will be defined via objective criteria. It must be within the grounds of the main home and worth no more than a third of the total transaction value.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to simplify the declaration of gift aid payments.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government has already taken steps to simplify the declaration of Gift Aid payments by publishing a new declaration in October 2015. This was developed following consultation with representatives of the charity sector. The simpler wording of the new declaration will give charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) greater confidence that the donations they receive under Gift Aid will be valid.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to reduce the number of people receiving inaccurate correspondence on the status of their tax return.
Answered by David Gauke
Each year HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses the information it holds on its customers to remove around 400,000 customers from the Self-Assessment (SA) process. Customers will receive a letter confirming they no longer need to complete an SA tax return.
HMRC contacts all customers who need to complete an SA tax return and offers support and advice on how to do this successfully to avoid penalties. Where a customer wishes to check whether an SA tax return is due they can check using the tool provided at www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-a-tax-return. Tax returns issued will subsequently be withdrawn if a customer contacts HMRC to advise that their circumstances have changed and that a SA tax return is no longer required.
If an SA tax return has not been filed within 6 weeks of the filing and payment deadlines, customers will receive a reminder either through email or SMS.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has taken to reduce the number of unnecessary customer calls to HMRC telephone lines.
Answered by David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs has deployed a Demand Management approach since 2010 to reduce unnecessary telephony demand. This approach includes reengineering business processes, improving forms and guidance to provide greater clarity for customers and introducing a “Once and Done” approach on calls, where possible.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many regulated Retail Financial Advisory firms there are; and how many have five or more financial advisers working for them.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply to you directly by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many registered financial advisers are sole traders.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply to you directly by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that paper forms are more readily available to people who do not have computers who are required to fill in annual tax returns; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Gauke
I can confirm that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) customers can continue to choose whether to file their Self Assessment (SA) tax returns on paper or online. If a customer receives a Notice to File a SA tax return (SA316) but wishes instead to complete a paper SA return they can still do this. HMRC provides the customer with a Self Assessment Helpline number (0300 200 3310) on which they can talk through their needs with an adviser, and at their request HMRC will send out a paper return.